Environmental risk factors for multiple sclerosis in Japanese people

Conclusion: Smoking and earlier age of menarche are positively associated and sunlight exposure in early childhood is negatively associated with MS in Japanese people as shown in Caucasians. Intake of steamed short-grain white rice, a staple food in Japan, is newly found to be negatively associated with MS in Japanese people. Although the causality is unclear because the participants were prevalent cases, these environmental factors may be involved in the rising prevalence of MS in Japanese females.
Source: Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders - Category: Neurology Source Type: research